It’s the easy, quick-fire guide to every Melbourne Cup runner – expert Chris Roots gives you everything you need to know before you place your Cup bet.
THE MELBOURNE CUP
Time: the race is run on Tuesday at 3pm.
Distance: The Melbourne Cup is run over 3200m
THE HORSES
- Al Riffa (19) 59kg
Joseph O’Brien – Mark Zahra
Clearly the best credentialed stayer in the Cup and has earned his top weight. His Irish St Leger win was outstanding in the Australian Bloodstock silks, who have twice won the Cup with internationals. Joseph O’Brien is a two-time Cup winner as is jockey Mark Zahra. They know how to win the Cup and have the right horse.
- Buckaroo (12) 57kg
Chris Waller – Craig Williams
The Cox Plate has proven the best form for the Cup in recent times, and he was runner-up to a superstar in Via Sistina this year. He hasn’t missed a place in weight-for-age this spring but hasn’t won in more than a year. He finished midfield in last year’s Cup with little luck. He has class but there are big questions about him running the two miles.
- Arapaho (15) 56.5kg
Bjorn Baker – Rachel King
The Sydney Cup winner is returning for a second crack at The Race That Stops The Nation as a nine-year-old. He finished 11th in 2022 and there is no doubt he will run the 3200m right out and he will like some give in the track. He has a big weight and has struggled under big imposts at his past two runs. He should be running on at the end when others are stopping.
- Vauban (2) 56.5kg
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott – Blake Shinn
He has twice come to Melbourne under the care of Irish genius Willie Mullins, and they were only times he missed a place over 3200m. He has been in Australia since the Cup last year, joining the Tulloch Lodge team, and has been set for this race. He didn’t enjoy the smaller track in the Caulfield Cup and can improve with a soft run.
- Chevalier Rose (5) 55.5kg
Hisashi Shimizu – Damian Lane
A Japanese raider that is a two-time Group 2 winner in the Land of the Rising Sun over 2400m and 3600m last year. He stepped to the top grade and struggled in Japan in 2025. It is unclear how he will handle the expected wet track. Damien Lane was booked to ride a month ago and Japanese stayers always have to be respected.
- Presage Nocturne (9) 55.5kg
Alessandro Botti – Stephane Pasquier
A French grey that has run his best races at 3000m and beyond. He ran a Group 1 placing at Longchamp before being beaten in a photo in the Prix Kergorlay, which has been a great Melbourne Cup pointer. Jockey Stephane Pasquier came out and ran fourth on him in the Caulfield Cup, where he was just getting warmed up late. All his turf wins are on wet tracks, so he ticks a lot of boxes.
- Middle Earth (13) 54.5kg
Ciaron Maher – Ethan Brown
He is the younger half-brother to Buckaroo and had Group 3 and Listed wins at 2410m and 2850m before coming to Australia. He has never faced the two-mile test before but earned his crack at the Cup with a third in the JRA Cup at Moonee Valley. He was held up until the 200m in the Caulfield Cup but only battled late. He is one of the outsiders for a reason.
- Meydaan (22) 54kg
Simon and Ed Crisford – James McDonald
Racing Victoria handicapper David Hegan feels this stayer might have got under his guard because his best runs have been placings instead of wins. He has Group 3 placings at Glorious Goodwood and Kempton before coming to Australia. His Caulfield Cup run was inconclusive after being trapped wide. James McDonald hops on for the Cup and feels he has the change-up speed to be a factor.
- Absurde (4) 53.5kg
Willie Mullins – Kerrin McEvoy
He has been here for the past two Melbourne Cups and ran well. It could be argued he wins last year, when he went for the same run as Knight’s Choice and came off second best and finished fifth. Kerrin McEvoy sticks with him as he looks for a record-equalling fourth Cup win. He has the benefit of a Caulfield Cup run this year and is a main player again.
- Flatten The Curve (17) 53.5kg
Henk Grewe – Thore Hammer Hansen
Started his career in France, but since moving to Germany, he has proven a stayer of some note with five wins at 3000m and above. He didn’t handle the sloppy dirt in the Belmont Gold Cup, but won at two miles when he returned to Hamburg and then won the Bowling Green Gold Cup by a space at Kentucky Downs. Well-travelled raider with good claims on our Cup.
- Land Legend (16) 53.5kg
Chris Waller – Joao Moreira
He’s probably not in the form he was 12 months ago when a Metropolitan winner and Caulfield Cup placegetter before running eighth in the Melbourne Cup. He hasn’t beaten a runner home in his past two outings. He drops in the weights here, but would need to make a big improvement to be in the finish.
- Smokin’ Romans (11) 53.5kg
Ciaron Maher – Ben Melham
Here is one of the leaders for this year’s Cup and could be first past the post the first time. He ran seventh in the 2022 Cup after making the speed on a wet track and his form suggests that a soft track helps his chances. His last win was in the Warrnambool Cup leading all the way but that is a long way from Flemington on the first Tuesday in November.
- Changingoftheguard (24) 53kg
Kris Lees – Tim Clark
Another front-runner that carries the famous Lloyd Williams colours, which have been worn by the Cup winner on seven occasions. Looked to have returned in great form when he dominated from the front in the City Tatts Cup in Sydney, then was checked out of the Metropolitan, then he looked to have something to offer but only plugged in the Geelong Cup. He should run the trip out, but it is hard to see him worrying the main hopes.
- Half Yours (8) 53kg
Tony and Calvin McEvoy – Jamie Melham
The Caulfield Cup winner, who has been a star this spring for Jamie Melham. He was eye-catching late against the best horses in training in the Turnbull Stakes. He loves soft ground, but has to be a risk of running out the 3200m. He has a great record as favourite winning five times from seven when at the top of the market. Sure to be popular with punters and among the leading hopes.
- More Felons (23) 53kg
Chris Waller – Tommy Berry
Another horse returning for a second crack at the Melbourne Cup after finishing midfield in 2023. He is a Tancred Stakes runner-up and ran a cheeky race in the Metropolitan at big odds, finishing fourth, as he did in the St Leger last time in Sydney. He is a one-paced stayer that will keep coming but may lack the class to be a winning hope.
- Onesmoothoperator (6) 53kg
Brian Ellison – Harry Coffey
He returns to the Melbourne Cup after being one of the favourites when he finished midfield last year. Other than that run he has won a Geelong Cup and a Moonee Valley Cup in Australia and appears to be well handicapped this year. He has only had four runs this year suggesting that he has had one target – the Melbourne Cup. Don’t leave him out.
- Furthur (7) 52kg
Andrew Balding – Michael Dee
A lightly-raced European three-year-old with staying form to suggest he can measure up here. He was the Queen’s Vase runner-up at Royal Ascot and then won the Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury with some authority. Popular media figure Lizzie Jelfs is now in the ownership, and she might get her hands on the Melbourne Cup come Tuesday night.
- Parchment Party (3) 52kg
William Mott – Johnny Velazquez
The first American runner in the Melbourne Cup that won his place in the race by taking out the Belmont Gold Cup. The majority of his form is on the dirt, as was his Gold Cup victory. He will be ridden by one of America’s finest jockeys, Johnny Velazquez, but might struggle on the Flemington turf.
- Athabascan (1) 51.5kg
John O’Shea and Tom Charlton – Declan Bates
He is an out-and-out stayer and was the Sydney Cup runner-up in 2024 and ran fifth in the two-miler this year. He has been targeted at the Melbourne Cup this preparation and showed he was on course running second in the Moonee Valley Cup last time out. He will stay and enjoy a soft track and could surprise.
- Goodie Two Shoes (20) 51.5kg
Joseph O’Brien – Wayne Lordan
He carries the famous JP McManus colours and has been over the jumps in the past like Cup legend Vintage Crop. She scored a hattrick of wins in Ireland, including a strong effort at two miles in the His Majesty’s Plate, before being placed at Glorious Goodwood. She is used to carrying big weights, so 51.5kg is a luxury and she will make her presence felt.
- River of Stars (14) 51.5kg
Chris Waller – Beau Mertens
She was a Group 1 runner-up in France before coming to Australia and appears a stayer with a change of gear. She was game running third in the Sydney Cup and has improved with every run this spring. Her second in the Caulfield Cup was strong as she was the only on-speeder to be there at the end. Her middle draw suits and has top claims here.
- Royal Supremacy (21) 51kg
Ciaron Maher – Robbie Dolan
He came to Australia as an Italian Derby runner-up and Royal Ascot placegetter and he has struck his form this spring. He was just touched off in the Newcastle Cup before winning the Metropolitan in Sydney. He found the line strongly in the Caulfield Cup to run fifth. Robbie Dolan looks for back-to-back Melbourne Cup wins and will get his chance.
- Torranzino (18) 51kg
Paul Preusker – Celine Gaudray
A strong stayer that likes wet tracks and has come into form at the right time. He charged to the line for second behind Valiant King in the Bart Cummings before proving the strongest in the Geelong Cup. Celine Gaudray has a great association with him, seven rides for three wins and three seconds, which is key. In form and underrated and has to be included in trifectas. Best outsider.
- Valiant King (10) 51kg
Chris Waller – Jye McNeil
He was looking ordinary before Chris Waller reached for the blinkers at the beginning of October and he has gone from outsider to one of the favourites since. He stormed away with the Bart Cummings coming from last and then weaved through late to run third in the Caulfield Cup. He gets in the Cup without a penalty and should be in the finish.
Chris Roots Top 4
1 River Of Stars
2 Onesmoothoperator
3 Presage Nocturne
4 Goodie Two Shoes
Top 3
Goodie Two Shoes
Al Riffa
Valiant King
Top 10
Half Yours
Meydaan
Absurde
Torranzino
Changingoftheguard
Royal Supremacy
